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8 Responses to About

I don’t want to sound like an ass, but you mention frequently in your blogs that you spend a lot of time in Washington, but the town your blogspot indicates you live, Chambersburg, is several hours drive away.

I was kind of wondering…do you have a day job?? Or are you one of those men who still lives with his mother in order to not pay rent/mortgage, to have the freedom to pursue all these activist events, holding a sign that people will look at only long enough to wonder “who fucked him over bad enough to leave him here?”

I was involved with someone, who was an activist such as yourself, for a while, and I recall watching her slowly but surely get more and more into it, and out of reality.

I guess that what I’m trying to say (again, not trying to be an ass, but I would like to think you are a man who is open to discussions despite disagreements) is that if you really want to make a difference in this country, than maybe you should consider than unless you are some crazy cult leader, being one man by yourself will never make an impact. If you want change, run for office or something. I see that you’ve written a book, self-published, and again, that seems to me to be the “I want to change the world all by MYSELF” kind of attitude. (Mind you, kuddos for actually writing it!)

The United States was founded on the idea that it requires teamwork, a group of men of the same purpose, in order to make change happen. I don’t think you really grasp this concept.

Thanks for commenting . . . and no, I don’t think you’re being (or sounding like) an ass by asking the question that you ask. I have asked the same questions before over the years of the activists I’ve seen or heard about on the television news.

I wrote a brief autobiography for my Amazon author page. In it you will find, I think, some of the answers to your questions. Either follow this link or simply follow one of the links to my book on this site: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002MH9Z32

I began working when I was 16, I joined the Army at 17, I got married when I was 20, I’ve worked as a soldier, truck driver, warehouseman, a delivery driver, a bookseller, and a construction laborer. I was divorced when I was 38 and I am now 50. I recently (this year) returned from Arizona, where I was working construction, and so I have had only one construction job since returning to PA.

In short, although I am currently unemployed, I do work and seek employment when not working. I have never been a full time activist and the only reason I have had the time to protest now is because the economy is so bad that hardly anyone is hiring.

I’m not on my own in this endeavor. Many American citizens are organizing with common purpose in order to effect positive change in this country . . . to help create a more just society.

And there are million of them. A very large group of people of which I am only a part.

As for teamwork, I learned that concept in the Army, so I have a very good grasp on it . . . and I have had a very good grasp on that concept for quite some time now. And as for politics, I did attempt a campaign for a seat in the US Congress (AR) once. I can assure you that the election/campaign system/process in this nation is corrupt through and through. And the fact that my land-line phone was illegally tapped during this attempt at a political campaign was rather disheartening, to say the least. The death threat I took in stride. I mentioned this experience in one of my blog posts:

Writing an essay for a newspaper, or a letter to the editor, or a blog post, is, in fact, one of the best way to open a discussion about important issues, which is always the intent of my writing: to open a discussion. You may not realize this but one man, by writing, can change/influence the world (think: Karl Marx).

As for the self-published book thing, the publishing industry is going through a revolution right now, which I am happy to be a part of. Since I have no academic degrees, no publisher would pick-up my book. And since Amazon was willing to publish it, I went with them in order to get my book/ideas out there. It’s a simple as that. I’m not trying to do anything on my own.

After all, no man is an island.

I would be more than happy to discuss and debate the important issues of our time, in a public forum, anytime. Just let me know where and when.

I myself tend to steer clear of actual protest, though recently I was nearly inspired to join in a rally in downdown Tucson (I live in Tucson, Arizona)after the latest immigration laws were passed. It was truly a sight to see. Cops all over the place, not really too many signs, just hundreds of Latinos gathered as a show of force.

I think what made it hit home for me was that I know a young lady who is not of Latino decent, yet she looks like she could very well be. She fears walking alone in the southside where she lives, because she knows what she looks like and fears being harassed by the cops. And, for that matter, any other red-neck white-belly moron who thinks that Latinos are less of a person than they are.

It reminds me of the Civil War (I’m an English tutor, yet my true passion lies in History), and after the fact, and how people of African decent FEARED for their safety in the same way.

Backing up, you never did answer my question about how you get by. I know the economy is rough right now. I tend to think it’s far worse than most people believe. But a man has to have a roof over his head, cloths on his back, and food in his belly.

I would enjoy a continued correspondence with you. My email address is *******@*****.com LOL, blame my ex (the activist) for that one. She was always trying to talk me into the idea that as one man, I was unique and could indeed make a major difference. I think she just wanted me to condone her actions. I don’t do social networking and what not…none of that myspace or facebook stuff. Not much for forums. I do email. That’s it. With all kids these days can do with the internet, I’ve begun to feel very old. (I’m 42)

Anyone, I enjoy talking to someone who will debate with good taste. You seem to be that kind of man.

I think the impact of the new AZ immigration law will be minimal . . . meaning that no one is going to be stopped for being brown in Tucson. I lived in Tucson and the cops are too busy to be stopping brown people for color suspicion.

I’m getting by now like I was in Tucson: working construction and driving when I can find the work. With occasional help from my mom, because I’ve not been able to find full time work. In Tucson I lived with my girlfriend, now that I moved to PA I am living with my mom and my sister. Would I prefer my own place at the moment? Of course I would. But the only reason I’m here is because my mom’s here (she is 76) and we appreciate being able to spend time together, since neither of us really have much time left to us. I’ve lived away from home for the past 30+ years, so I’m not one to mooch off my mom . . . I never have been . . . and have been quite content, over the years, to live anywhere . . . and I still am. It’s not like I’ve never left home, which is what you seem to be implying, I’m just that I’m in a fucked-up economic situation right now. I would certainly prefer it if my girlfriend had NOT dumped me and that we were still living together in Tucson . . .

It’s not easy finding work when you’re 50 and have convictions for protesting injustices (like abortion and war), but I’ve managed to find some.

If someone had hired me when I had first gotten here, then I suppose I never would have had the time to protest anything (except abortion, which I’ve protested for years).

I’m considering becoming a Catholic Worker in DC, which is full time, unpaid, charity and social justice work (including participating in protests). But I may just get full time work here instead . . . and try to get back to living a normal life . . . like with a girlfriend, when I’m over my ex.